Petunia plant `Revolution Bluevein`

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a decumbent type petunia plant having a long stem. The plant has abundant branching and a great profusion of blooms, and the whole bush remains in bloom for a long period of time. The flowers are single and small, are bi-color, and have a vein pattern. The plant is highly resistant to rain, drought, and heat and disease.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/234,617,filed Apr. 28, 1994 which is a continuation application of Ser. No.08/090,962, filed Jul. 13, 1993, both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of petuniaplant obtained from crossing `Cloud Mixed` (♀) having purple color petal`Cloud Blue` and a wild type of petunia plant (♂) having white colorpetal, native to Brazil.

Petunia is a very popular plant and is used for flower bedding andpotting in the summer season. There are only a few varieties of thepetunia plant which do not have an upright growth habit and which have ahigh resistance to rain, heat, and drought. The petunia series`Revolution`, which we patented which includes the plants`Revolution-Purplepink`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,915; `RevolutionBrilliantpink`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,914; and `RevolutionBrilliantpink-mini`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,899, are petunia plantshaving decumbent growth of branches, with long stems, a lower, spreadinghabit, abundant branching and high resistance to heat, drought, andrain. However, there are only a few varieties having bi-color of theflower. Accordingly, this invention was aimed to obtaining a new varietyhaving a whitish purple color petal and bi-color of flower, togetherwith features of said `Revolution` series.

The new variety of petunia plant according to this invention originatedfrom a crossing of `Cloud Blue` having violet color petal that wasreproduced from the petunia F1 seed, `Cloud Mixed` available from T & Mlimited of England as the female parent and a wild type of petunia plantnative to Brazil having white colored petal as the pollen parent, inFeburary, 1989 at the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute forFundamental Research of SUNTORY Ltd., residing at 2913-1 Torihara,Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan. From this crossing 300seedlings were obtained in 1989, from which 5 seedlings were selected,propagated by cutting, and then grown as a trial by flower bedding andpotting from the spring of 1990. Only one of the 5 resulting plants wasselected. The botanical characteristics of the finally-selected plantwere then examined, using a similar variety, `RevolutionBrilliantpink-mini`, for comparision, from the spring of 1991. As aresult, it was concluded that this petunia plant is distinguishable fromany other variety, whose existence is known to use, and this new varietyof petunia plant was named `Revolution Bluevein`.

In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with theHorticultural Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England (R.H.S. Color Chart), and the Inter-Society Color Council-NationBureau of Standards Color Name (I.S.C.C.-N.B.S. Color Name). A colorchart based on The Japan Color Standard for Horticultural Plant (J.H.S.Color Chart) is also added for reference.

The female parent used in the breeding of `Revolution Bluevein` is`Cloud Blue` having violet color petal of Retunia F1 seed, `Cloud Mix`from T&M, England. This petunia plant in world wide marketed. The mainbotanical characteristics of this female parent are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Upright.

Plant height.--30-40 cm.

Spreading area of plant.--25-35 cm in diameter.

Blooming period.--April to September, the southern Kanto area, Japan.

Stems:

Thickness.--3.0-6.0 mm.

Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Absent.

Branching.--Abundant.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Length of internodes.--2.0-4.0 cm.

Leaf:

Leaf attaching angle.--Horizontal.

Shape.--Elliptic.

Size (average).--5.0-6.5 cm in length; 2.5-3.5 cm in width.

Thickness.--0.4-0.6 mm.

Color.--Moderate olive green to moderate yellow green (R.H.S. 146A-137C,J.H.S. 3508-3712).

Pubescence.--Medium.

Flower: Opening obliquely upward.

Type.--Single.

Shape.--Funnel-shape, with corolla having five fused segments or petals.

Diameter.--8.0-10.0 cm.

Color.--Violet-Blue (R.H.S. 89A-90A).

Reproductive organs.--1 normal pistil having a stigma and 5 normalstamens.

Peduncle.--1.5-2.5 mm in thickness, and 2.5-3.0 mm in length.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: Moderate resistance torain, heat and disease, and moderate resistance to pests.

The pollen parent used in the breeding of `Revolution Bluevein` is awild type of petunia native to Brazil having white color petal, theseeds of which were gathered at Gramado, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil andintroduced to Japan in October, 1983. This wild type of plant ispresently maintained at the aforementioned Plant BiotechnologyLaboratory, Institute for Fundamental research of SUNTORY Ltd. The mainbotanical characteristics of this male parent are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Decumbent.

Plant height.--20 cm.

Spreading area of plant.--100-150 cm in diameter.

Blooming period.--May to August in the southern Kanto area, Japan.

Stems:

Length from base.--50-80 cm.

Thickness.--Main stem 2.0-3.0 mm; lateral stem 1.5-2.5 mm.

Color.--Strong yellow green (R.H.S. 144B-144C, J.H.S. 3512-3513).

Branching.--Over-abundant.

Pubescence.--Dense.

Length of internodes.--1.0-2.0 cm before blooming; 1.5-3.0 cm duringblooming.

Leaf:

Phyllotaxis.--Opposite both before and during blooming.

Shape.--Oval.

Size (average).--4.5-4.5 cm×2.5-3.5 cm.

Thickness.--0.4-0.5 mm.

Color.--Grayish olive green (R.H.S. 137A-137B, J.H.S. 3716-3717).

Pubescence.--Scant.

Flower: Opening obliquely upward.

Type.--Single.

Shape.--Funnel-shape, with corolla having five fused segments or petals.

Diameter.--4.0-5.0 cm.

Color.--In the unopened stage (bud), yellow green (R.H.S. 149C-149DJ.H.S. 3303-3304); when open, green white (R.H.S. 157D, J.H.S. 3102); atfull bloom, white (R.H.S. 155D, J.H.S. 2902).

Reproductive organ.--1 pistil and 5 stamens, both normal.

Peduncle.--0.9-1.2 mm in thickness, and 2.0-2.5 mm in length.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance todrought, relatively high resistance to heat, and moderate resistance todiseases and pests.

This new and distinct variety of petunia plant, `Revolution Bluevein`,was asexually reproduced by cuttings at the aforementioned PlantBiotechnology Laboratory, Institute for Fundamental Research of SUNTORYLtd., residing at 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun,Yamanashi-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof wereconfirmed.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new variety of petunia plant has a decumbent habit and long stem,and thus is very different from similar variety, `Falcon Rose`, havingan semi-upright growth habit and `Revolution Brilliantpink-mini`. Theplant has abundant branching and great profusion of blooms, and thewhole bush remains in bloom for a considerable period of time, longerthan the bloom period of `Falcon Rose`. The flowers are single, andsmaller than `Falcon Rose`, the petals have bi-colored vein pattern andground color is very pale purple, pattern color is moderate purple whichis clearly distinguished from `Revolution Brilliantpink-mini`, singlecolor of flower is strong reddish purple. The flower color is a palepurple at the beginning of blooming, then gradually fades to a very palepurple. The bottom throat inside portion of the corolla has a vividpurple color. The plant is highly resistant to rain, drought, heat anddisease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph giving a partial view of the new variety ofpetunia plant planted in a flower bed;

FIG. 2 is photograph of flowers of the new variety of petunia plant;

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing, in numerical order, a branch having anopen flower (3), a current shoot (4), a bud (5), a side view of theflower (6), a front view of the flower (7), a rear view of the flower(8), an interior view of the flower (9), and pistil and stamens (10), ofthe new variety of petunia plant; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing, in numerical order, a brunch having anopen flower (1), a flower (2), a bud (3), and a current shoot (4) of asimilar variety `Revolution Brilliantpink-mini`, in comparision withcorresponding items (5-8) of the new variety of petunia plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of petuniaplant `Revolution Bluevein` are as follows.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Decumbent. The stems hang down where potted in a hangingpot.

Plant height.--20-25 cm.

Spreading area of plant.--The stem extends to a length of 70-80 cm fromthe base, and thus the spreading area of the plant is 140-160 cm indiameter. When good soil conditions are present with adequate moisture,the new variety spreads by the rooting of the nodes of stems.

Growth.--Very vigorous with abundant branching, a great profusion ofblooms; the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period oftime.

Blooming period.--Late March to the beginning of October, in all areasof Japan. The plant shape does not change throughout this period.

Stems: Extending to 70-80 cm.

Thickness.--4.0-6.0 mm.

Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Absent.

Pubescence.--Medium.

Branching.--Over-abundant (primary), abundant (secondary).

Length of internode.--2.0-4.0 cm.

Leaf:

Leaf attaching angle.--Horizontal.

Shape.--Oval.

Length.--3.0-4.0 cm.

Width.--1.5-3.5 cm.

Thickness.--0.6-0.8 cm.

Color.--Moderate yellow green (R.H.S. 137C J.H.S. 3712).

Pubescence.--Medium.

Flower: Opening obliquely upward.

Type.--Single.

Shape.--Funnel-shaped, with corolla having five fused segments or petalswith the midrib of the segments being conspicuously of a darker purplecolor.

Diameter.--5.0-6.0 cm.

Color.--Petal is bi-color with vein pattern. The ground color is verypale purple (R.H.S. 91C-91D, J.H.S. 8301-8302) and the pattern color ismoderate purple (R.H.S. 83A, J.H.S. 8608). At the beginning of bloomingthe ground color of petal is pale purple (R.H.S. 91C, J.H.S. 8302), thengradually fades to a very pale purple (R.H.S. 91D, J.H.S. 8301). Thebottom throat inside portion of the corolla is a vivid purple color(R.H.S. 88A. J.H.C. 8306).

Reproductive organs.--1 normal pistil and 5 normal stamens (2 stamensare higher than pistil). The pistils and stamens are normal and typicalof the genus.

Ploidy.--The new variety is both male and female fertile and is believedto be diploid consistent with the diploid character of its parents.

Peduncle.--2.0-2.5 mm in thick, and 0.2-0.3 cm in length.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance todrought, rain, and heat. Also high resistance to diseases. Moderateresistance to pests.

This new variety of petunia plant is most suitable for flower beddingand potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters, and furtherexcellent for ground cover.

The plant of this new variety `Revolution Bluevein` is presently plantedand maintained at the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute forFundamental Research of SUNTORY Ltd., residing at 2913-1 Torihara,Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Tamanashi-ken, Japan.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant, substantiallyas herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as tonovelty by (A) being a decumbent habit plant having long stems, (B) anabundant branching and a great profusion of blooms, the whole bushremaining in bloom for a considerable period of time, (C) flowers thatare single and small, the petals have bi-color with vein pattern and theground color is very pale purple and the pattern color is moderatepurple and bottom throat inside portion of a vivid purple color, and (D)a high resistance to rain, drought, heat and disease.